What Will 5G Mean For Internet Users?

For the average internet user – for example, people who like to play casino games online – how they access the internet is less important than what they get out of it. Sure, some people might want to ensure they have a super-fast broadband connection for jobs that have a high level of demand, such as streaming videos, but whether they connect via Wi-Fi, ethernet cables or from their data allowance on their smartphone rarely makes a big difference. This could soon change, however. As the rollout of 5G services starts to supersede 4G and the even older 3G technologies most people are used to, the differences are going to soon be much more noticeable. What does this mean for the average web surfer?

Defining 5G

Before we go any further, it is worth getting to grips with what 5G actually is. To begin with, it is a cellular data transmission technology. Essentially, it is a set of standards that allow data to transfer to and from mobile devices and the cellular network of a country, thereby connecting users to the internet with all that it has to offer. 5G merely stands for the fifth generation of such technology. Your smartphone probably already shows you a 4G icon when you are able to access those services.

The big differentiator with 5G compared with what we have thus far been used to is that it will be exponentially faster than previous generations. It will allow for digital services to work in remote locations at the same, or similar, rates to what we are only used to from the fastest broadband connections. So, you could go on a camping trip and watch high-definition videos with virtually no buffering. Even so, 5G offers much more potential than to do what we do now – it will provide many more new possibilities, too.

What Applications Will 5G Offer?

Many appliance manufacturers are already designing household devices that will be able to take advantage of 5G. Lighting, heating and chilling systems can all be connected to the internet already. However, massive amounts of data concerning their functions may be transferred to central servers in the future. This might allow electrical producers, for instance, to regulate their power as demand changes, thereby helping to preserve resources.

When it comes to internet entertainment, you can expect three-dimensional and even virtual reality experiences to become even more lifelike. Realistic casino experiences where you interact with dealers and other players in real-time is highly likely to become the norm, for example. People will soon be able to virtually attend big concerts or sporting events so it feels as though they are really there.

5G is also expected to play a crucial role in new automated services. Self-driving cars and robotic firefighting services are just two areas of research that will benefit from 5G connectivity. There are also numerous healthcare applications that are likely to be developed as this level of data transfer becomes the benchmark.

Concerns Over 5G

Some people have voiced concerns about 5G. In the UK, cybersecurity became a big issue, for example, when it was discovered that the cellular network required for it to work would need both hardware and software developed in China. Others have also said that the frequencies that the technology will rely on will interfere with certain weather monitoring systems. In short, some metrological satellites may be blind-sided by 5G networks when they are in full use.

Elsewhere, some members of the public – and a few medical professionals – have said that the long-term effects of 5G are not yet understood. Could the technology lead to health problems as the waves that are used pass through our bodies? Some claim 5G is linked to mysterious bird deaths and even cancers in humans. However, such concerns do not appear to be borne out by officially gathered evidence.